River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-09-08
Henry Georgeism

EDITOR JoURNAL:-In your last weeks
paper, among the things They say, You
quote that George Bates has become a
convert TO the Henry George doctrine.
Now there are so many people who rely
upon the education afforded by the pub
lie press upon almost all questions not
purely local, SO many whose sole knowl-
edge of this theory they say L advocate
has been obtained from papers whose ed
itors have seen fit to misquote, misrepre-
sent, ridiclile, and fight with all sorts OF
weapons, except good, sound, common
sense argument, until the belief has be-
come quite general that MIR. George and
those who believe him to be right are 70
be classed as communists, socialists, ana
anarchists or something equally danger
GUS TO the present corrupt state of society.
No doubt there are some who actually be-
lieve them as cranky as the Prohibition
lists In order that the good people OF
River Falls may not lose any sleep on ac-
count of having 50 dangerous a person IN
the community let me haste To say that
while believing il right and proper TO use
any power OF persl Iaslon may possess 10
get people who still have some power OF
Thought to examine this doctrine, there
is no danger OF my going farther and at
tempting 10 shoot it into them with
Calling gun or blowing it into them with
dynamite.
Having made a careful study of Henry
Georges books and read everything COM
ing in my way bearing upon the theory,
fail utterly to find anything in it calling
for the denunciation il has received. \
plain statement of what he holds to be
truths, the people Of this country are in
vited TO examine and discuss; II upon
such examination the theory Is found TAI
lacious or inexpedient. there are no advo-
Gates mad enough to propose us enforce
ment by fire and sword. IL Is my honest
belief, that, the change proposed would
benefit temporarily rs well as morally, ev-
cry man and woman, and especially ey-
cry child, in city and country, and fur
ther. that the man or woman does not
live who can give this subject careful
consideration, throwing seltishness and
prejudice aside, and not become bellev-
er in it.
This is our PLATFORM That the earth
belongs in usufruct 10 the living; that no
generation of men have the right TO dis
pose of or grant away the rights OF future
generations; that the highest title To land
in these United States is tenancy In fee
simple, subject to such tax as the govern
ment may see fit TO impose, even to the
full rental value of the land. If the own
CT cries llluStlCt, illO lliAHNi Npu4h hS'
your deed does not and cannot fix the
amount of yoIr tax, that is a matter left
to the discretion of the people who CON
stitute the state. Further, the values
which we collect in taxes ON the land
Exclusive of improvements) were not
produced by your toll but by the gener-
al enterprise and industry of the whole
community, and as a matter of justice, as
well as law, it belongs to the public. Is
this confiscation2 No, simply restitution.
The land owner has heretofore contis-
Gated these values; we propose to use
them for the benefit Of all, and relieve
productive industry of all fines on produc-
ton. If you see fit to economist, to
build fence, improve your land or build a
house, under the conditions brought
about by this change thousands of poor
workingmen, who have heretofore des-
paired of owning even the dust they car
led about on their boots, will build hous-
es, free OF taxes and fines.
I.popGE Rates